State Police: Truck that plunged into Sugar River was stolen, Walpole man charged

By MEGHAN PIERCEUnion Leader Correspondent

CLAREMONT -- A Walpole man was arrested Friday after crashing a stolen truck into the Sugar River while fleeing from police in the early morning hours.

Travis Hattey, 18, of Walpole, was charged with conduct with a deadly weapon, receiving stolen property, disobeying an officer, conduct after an accident and DWI. He is to be arraigned in the 5th Circuit Court, Claremont Division Friday afternoon, State Police said.

About 3:20 a.m. Friday morning State Trooper Charles Newton attempted to stop a vehicle on Elm St. in Claremont near the intersection of Factory St. and Main St.

When the trooper activated the blue lights of his cruiser the 2006 Toyota Tundra accelerated rapidly through the intersection and onto Factory Street, a dead end that borders the Sugar River.

"The vehicle went through the end of the road, crashing through trees, became airborne and crashed into the river," State Police said.

While attempting to reach the vehicle, police spotted a passenger, a juvenile from Westminister, Vt., swimming across the river and away from the police. The juvenile was later located in Bellows Falls, Vt.

Hattey, who is believed to have been driving, was first seen clinging to rocks at the base of the embankment. When police tried to assist Hattey up the embankment using a rope, he disappeared into the river.

A dive team from the Southwestern Water Rescue Task Force searched the river for more than five hours, but did not find Hattey. He was located hours later in Claremont.

Investigators have determined the Toyota was stolen earlier that morning from a home in North Walpole, State Police said. Trooper Newton did not have that information when he attempted to stop the Toyota.

State Police were assisted by Claremont police and fire departments, the Southwestern Water Rescue Task Force and Walpole police.

Anyone with information is asked to call the New Hampshire State Police at 223-8494.